Sox notes.

While Others Flop, Andujar Flowers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Presented with the opportunity to join the White Sox rotation last year, rookie Scott Ruffcorn was roughed up in every start.

Last spring, the Sox decided to give rookie James Baldwin the same chance, but he fared no better. Baldwin was sent back to Triple-A Nashville on April 29 after giving up four home runs and seven runs in 1 1/3 innings at Detroit.

While the two top pitching prospects in the system have never lived up to expectations, rookie Luis Andujar is exceeding his. Andujar has a 2.67 earned-run average after four starts, and opposing hitters are batting .212 against him. How can a kid up from Double-A ball look so poised while Ruffcorn and Baldwin looked lost?

"He believes in himself and he believes he's going to go get people out," said manager Terry Bevington. "He has no fear at all. Most times when you're successful, you just have to be yourself."

Farewell, Andy: Bevington and several Sox veterans were saddened by the news that Andrew Rozdilsky, better known as "Andy the Clown," had passed away last week. Rozdilsky was the unofficial Sox greeter at old Comiskey Park for three decades with his flashing red nose and his trademark yell ("Go-o-o-oh You-u-u-u-u Whi-i-i-i-i-te S-o-x-x-x!").

Speed king: Lance Johnson may be closing in on another major-league triples record. If Johnson finishes first in triples for the fifth straight year, he'll tie the American League record for most years leading the league. The current AL record-holders are Sam Crawford with Detroit (1903, '10, '13, '14 and '15) and Kansas City's Willie Wilson (1980, '82, '85, '87 and '88).